Page 61 of Raise Me Up

We reach a checkpoint—a collection of smooth rocks overlooking the lush treetops—and the crew gives everyone time to take pictures and switch drivers. I make no move to climb out of the backseat.

“Need a sec. Still hard,” I tell Beau when he wanders over.

His gaze drops to my crotch. “Want me to help with that?”

“Oh, you’re gonna help me later. Once we wash these dirt tans off, I’m going to fuck you without mercy, Beau.”

That wipes the smirk off his face.

Between the glint of desire in his blue eyes and Stas stretching her arms overhead nearby, showing off those hard-earned abs, I’m fighting to calm down.

Beau hustles toward her, drawing her into his arms. “Should we take a pic together, sweetheart? Liam can’t come out to play right now on account of hismassiveboner.”

Stas glances at me with wide eyes. And then she tips her head back to let out a laugh.

I gain a newfound appreciation for Beau.

It’s hard to ignore the heavy dose of regret I have for going silent on him years ago. I want him to be able to trust me with his heart this time.

When Beau walks over to Jacob with his phone held out to ask for a picture, that bubble of jealousy returns. I leap out of the UTV and storm over to them. Forget hiding my dick. Let Jacob see what he’s competing with.

We gather on the edge of the hill, Stasi squeezed between me and Beau. I sense the eyes of the other drivers on us. I do my best to shield Stasi. If anyone thinks it’s wise to comment on our wandering hands and heated looks, they’re gonna receive an earful from me. No one makes my twins feel bad. That protection extends to Beau, too.

Jacob snaps our picture. Even with the death glares I’m handing out, he chats Beau up for a few minutes while I walk with Stasi back to the UTV, keys in hand.

Beau claims he doesn’t feel like driving, but I bet he’s scared to look like a fool after Stas handled the UTV like a pro.

As we slide into the front seats, Stasi peeks over at me. “Thank you for coming. Beau had asked me what you might like to do.”

I cock a brow. “You two been talking?”

A rosy tint highlights her cheeks. “He’s quite chatty. Except when y’all are in the studio. Then he sneaks pictures of the two of you to send to me.”

I snort. No surprise there. The man takes more selfies than anyone I know.

“How’s he doing? In the studio, I mean…” Stasi asks softly.

I give the question some thought, sifting through our workdays together to make sure I haven’t missed any odd behavior. It shouldn’t come as a surprise how easily Beau’s woven himself into the studio family. He’s quick to win people over.

“He seems happy there,” I say quietly.

“I wasn’t expecting his voice to sound so…” she shakes her head, at a loss for words.

“He was hiding in the background when he played with Lithos.”

“If he released something on his own, it would do so well, don’t you think?”

I nod. “Record labels would be lined up to sign him.”

She drops her head and picks at her nails. “Figures I’d end up falling for two talented musicians. At least you’re home now.”

My heart thuds off beat, almost painfully.

Thankfully, Beau returns to us before I have to come up with a response I’m not ready to give. As he hops in the back, I turn to ask, “Sure you don’t want to drive?”

“And let Stasi show me up? No thanks.”

I keep a slow pace with the group down the hill, but as soon as we’re back on the winding dirt roads, I gun it like I’m trying to outrun the apocalypse. Stasi’s carefree laughter has my smile returning.